despoil

views updated May 29 2018

de·spoil / diˈspoil/ • v. [tr.] (often be despoiled) steal or violently remove valuable or attractive possessions from; plunder: the church was despoiled of its marble wall covering.DERIVATIVES: de·spoil·er n.de·spoil·ment n.de·spo·li·a·tion / -ˌspōlēˈāshən/ n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

despoil

views updated May 23 2018

despoil XIII. — OF. despoill(i)er, despuillier (mod. dépouiller) :- L. dēspoliāre, f. DE- 6 + spoliāre (see SPOIL).

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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